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If there’s a goaltending crisis in Canada at the world junior level, Steve Spott doesn’t want to hear it.

“This is a team sport,” Canada’s head coach said on Tuesday. “You win as a hockey club and you lose as a hockey club. It’s difficult to put the last three world juniors on goalies. I don’t think it’s fair.”

Canada is looking for its first world junior gold since 2009. Bronze was the consolation prize last year and silver in the two previous winters.

Canadians want answers when gold doesn’t happen, but going with weak goaltending as the only reason doesn’t hold water. For example, two years ago in Buffalo against Russia in the gold medal game, netminder Mark Visentin was as much a victim of a defensive collapse in front of him than he was anything else.

The questions around netminding have been raised again because Canada’s four goalies at the selection camp — Malcolm Subban, Jordan Binnington, Laurent Brossoit and Jake Paterson — are unproven at the world junior level.

But the state of Canadian goaltending?

“Our 1994 group is pretty good and our ‘95 group is off the charts,” Hockey Canada goaltending coach Ron Tugnutt said. “I think we’re doing just fine. I just believe we went through a little phase there. Other teams were pulling their guys too.”

And here’s something that’s encouraging: Not one goalie struggled in the Red-White game on Tuesday night, a 3-1 victory by Team Red.

“They were the best four players on the ice,” Spott said. “All four were solid. The last thing we wanted was a 9-7 game.”

The third goalie that Canada takes to Russia won’t be left out. He will sit with Tugnutt during games, taking notes and making observations. And he will have on-ice sessions with Tugnutt when the other two are busy with game preparation.

FROM THE HASH MARKS

Cut in each of the past two years at the selection camp, defenceman Ryan Murphy has a good idea of what he has to do to stick this time around. “The main thing I have learned is just play my own game,” Murphy said. “Last year, I was trying to prove how well my defensive game had evolved. I got away from the offensive side, which is why I got invited in the first place.” And for those who figure Murphy might have a better chance of making it this year because Spott is his coach in Kitchener, think again. “Anyone who knows coach Spott knows he does not give any special treatment to any player,” Murphy said. “Maybe the edge I do have over some people is the comfort level with having him behind the bench.” ... Said TSN analyst and former Calgary Flames general manager Craig Button, who stopped by for a chat in the first period: “The most dominant winger in junior hockey this season has been Brett Ritchie. Power and skill and determination.” ... And this from Spott after the game: “Of all the players up front, he was the guy who stood out in a lot of different ways,” Spott said ... Two players who probably weren’t thrilled to see the lineup for the game were forwards Francis Beauvillier and Hunter Shinkaruk, as they were listed as extra forwards. Other forwards on the bubble as Canada heads into games against a CIS team on Wednesday and Thursday are Daniel Catenacci, JC Lipon and Tyler Graovac. “You can’t look at who you think is going to make it,” Catenacci, a Buffalo Sabres prospect, said. “There are surprises every year in camp. It’s like going to an NHL camp. You’re playing with great players but you have to have confidence knowing you can play with them.” Catenacci missed a wide open net behind Binnington in the second period ... Spott acknowledged there could be some cuts on Wednesday ... Morgan Rielly has been paired with Dougie Hamilton, a partnership that must be difficult for Maple Leafs fans to wrap their heads around. Hamilton is a Boston Bruins prospect and was drafted with the pick that the Leafs sent to Beantown in the Phil Kessel trade.

POINT SHOTS

Defenceman Xavier Ouellet (ankle) didn’t play in the Red-White game after saying he felt fine following the morning skate. Spott has big plans for him, and there was no point in having him on the ice for what amounted to a high-end scrimmage ... Hockey Canada has had to do some fancy footwork to ensure every player has a visa to enter Russia. A staffer gathered passports from each player as he arrived on Monday and then flew to Toronto that night to drop the applications at the Russian consulate. That same employee is scheduled to head back to the selection camp on Wednesday with the passports, as those players who are cut will need them when they depart. For those who are released, the unused Russian visa will be an unfortunate souvenir ... At the end of the first period during the shootout, Jonathan Huberdeau drew gasps from the capacity crowd at the Markin MacPhail Centre when he nearly came to a stop, deked backhand to forehand and slid the puck past goalie Jake Paterson ... Nathan MacKinnon’s skills with the puck are a treat to watch, even in a scrimmage. It’s hard to imagine how he is not in the NHL next season ... There were no injuries to report from the game. “I’m the happiest guy on the planet,” Spott said.

If there’s a goaltending crisis in Canada at the world junior level, Steve Spott doesn’t want to hear it.

“This is a team sport,” Canada’s head coach said on Tuesday. “You win as a hockey club and you lose as a hockey club. It’s difficult to put the last three world juniors on goalies. I don’t think it’s fair.”

Canada is looking for its first world junior gold since 2009. Bronze was the consolation prize last year and silver in the two previous winters.